As Barbara Bush spent two hours championing her son's software company at a Houston middle school Thursday morning, a watchdog group questioned whether the former first lady should be allowed to channel a donation to Neil Bush's Ignite Learning company through Houston's Hurricane Katrina relief fund.

"It's strange that the former first lady would want to do this. If her son's having a rough time of it, couldn't she write him a check?" said Daniel Borochoff, founder of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a Chicago-based charity watchdog group. "Maybe she isn't aware that people could frown upon this."

Some critics said donations to a tax-deductible charitable fund shouldn't benefit the Bush family. Others questioned whether the Houston Independent School District violated district policy by allowing the company to host a promotional event on campus.

HISD officials said the event at Fleming Middle School, where Bush met with 40 educators and business leaders, did not violate policy.

The school is among eight area campuses that received Ignite "Curriculum On Wheels" systems because of Bush's donation of an undisclosed amount to the Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund.

She gave specific instructions that part of the money be sent to the Scottish Space School Foundation. She asked that group, in turn, to use the money to buy eight Ignite systems  valued at $3,800 each  for Harris County schools with large numbers of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, according to Bush and fund officials.

strange. Is she just too cheap to donate money then give him money on his own? I guess it's a whole scheme to get the company publicity ...??? Honestly I find the length to which mrs. bush went so unnecessary and absurd that the fact that she did it is more... entertaining, than disturbing.

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